Negotiating a Plea Deal for a DUI Charge

In many states, the penalties for drunk driving can seem excessively harsh. The penalties for a DUI conviction can include jail time, a suspended license, probation, mandatory attendance at alcohol education classes, and community service. Agreeing to a plea deal with the prosecutor could help you reduce the severity of these criminal penalties. However, pleading guilty means giving up your constitutional rights to fight the charges.

A local and experienced DUI defense lawyer will know the nuances of DUI prosecution and plea bargaining in your area, offer advice, explain your options, and negotiate with the prosecutor to reach a plea that both sides find acceptable. Before you plead guilty to a DUI charge, contact a drunk driving defense attorney.

What Is a Plea Bargain?

The plea-bargaining process begins with a conversation between the prosecutor and you and your defense attorney. You can review the prosecution’s case, assess it, identify strengths and weaknesses, and proceed.

A plea deal is a negotiated agreement between a prosecutor and a defendant. A plea agreement involves pleading guilty to the crime instead of taking your case to trial. Your benefits include pleading guilty to reduced charges, lesser charges, or a lesser charge and, therefore, a less severe sentence. This might mean a felony is reduced to a misdemeanor. This could mean going on probation instead of going to jail. For the state, plea bargaining avoids the time and resources of taking the case to trial. For you, a favorable plea bargain means your drunk driving case is less significant on your driving record.

However, by pleading guilty, you are giving up your constitutional protections. These include the right to:

• A speedy trial
• Confront witnesses
• A jury trial
• Remain silent
• Assistance of counsel

For a DUI case, it is still up to the judge to accept a plea bargain. If you agree to plead guilty and the judge accepts it, your case will proceed to sentencing. For a DUI plea, sentencing may still include jail time, community service, fines, driver’s license suspension, and DUI school. It all depends on what the prosecution is willing to offer regarding a reduced sentence.

‘Wet Reckless’ Charges

In some states, reducing a DUI charge through a plea bargain to a “wet reckless” charge is possible. In essence, this means that instead of pleading guilty to DUI, you plead guilty to a reckless driving charge, and your record may indicate that the reckless driving case involved the consumption of alcohol (thus, the term “wet reckless”).

Some of the states with wet reckless laws include:

• California
• Delaware
• Florida
• Michigan
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• South Dakota
• Utah

A criminal defense attorney in your area will know the laws in your state.

In most cases, you cannot be charged with a wet reckless. Instead, it is a negotiated charge with lesser penalties than a DUI. Depending on the state, a wet reckless may still count as a prior offense when counting multiple DUIs. This means an arrest for driving under the influence after a wet reckless conviction may count as a second DUI, with increased penalties.

Wet reckless is a common plea charge because many drivers do not think they have a good case after getting arrested, and the agreement means lighter penalties and avoiding a trial. However, not all states allow wet reckless pleas.

Plea Deal for DUI Diversion Programs

Another plea bargain option for some drivers is a DUI diversion program. Diversion programs generally provide for probation instead of jail time. You will generally have to plead guilty to the criminal charges and get deferred judgment or sentencing. There are several conditions you will still have to meet in a DUI diversion program, which may include:

• Attending substance abuse counseling
• Performing community service
• Paying fines and fees
• Wearing an alcohol monitoring device
• Submitting to random urine tests
• Checking in with a probation officer

If you complete the terms of your diversion program, the court may drop the criminal charges or expunge your record. However, if you violate the terms of the program, the court may immediately sentence you to jail. Ensure you understand the program’s terms before accepting the deal.

Not all states have DUI diversion programs. In many states, it’s typically only available one time. Some states also expressly prohibit the expungement of drunk driving convictions. States with a DUI diversion program or deferred prosecution for a DWI include:

• Florida
• Oregon
• Utah
• Washington

When to Say No to a DUI Plea Deal

A plea agreement may seem like a good option when facing severe penalties. However, it may not be the best option in your case. An experienced DUI attorney can review your situation, identify the strengths in your defense, and answer your questions about the benefits and drawbacks of DUI plea bargains. There are several possible defense strategies for DUI cases, including:

• Police made a traffic stop or committed an unlawful search and seizure without probable cause
• Police improperly conducted field sobriety tests or improperly used a breath test device
• There was contamination or problems with the blood testing
• You were not driving or operating the vehicle at the time
• You were not impaired by alcohol or drugs

Don’t be coerced by the prosecutor’s threats. The prosecutor wants a plea deal and may make it seem like there are no other options but to plead guilty. You have the right to consult with a DUI lawyer before you respond to the charges.

Pleading guilty or no contest to any crime carries consequences. Even beyond jail, fines, a suspended license, and driving restrictions, a DUI conviction can hurt your job or your relationship with your family, and it can damage your reputation. Know your rights and possible avenues for resolution before pleading guilty to a DUI.  Contact a local and experienced DUI defense attorney.